Ballast car door operating mechanism



May 20, 1958 c. B. FAVERTY 2,835,203

BALLAST CAR DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2l, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AJZ I t: u I J4 @y @Aq/MM;

May 20, 1958 c. B. FAVERTY 2,835,208

BALLAST CAR DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2l, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/III y (fWMWQ/b United States Patent O BALLAST CAR DOOR OPERATING MECHANISMl Clyde B. Faverty, Evanston, lll., assignor to Pullman- Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application January 21, 1954, Serial No. 405,273

9 Claims. (Cl. 10s- 251) A.This invention relates to an improvement in ballast discharging cars.

- The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved operating mechanism for opening and closing the ballast car hopper doors.

Another object of this invention is to provide with a ballast discharging car having longitudinally disposed hoppers a simplied and rugged hopper door operating mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel hopper door operating mechanism whereby ballast may be discharged on one side of the rail or on the other side of the rail or simultaneously on both sides of the rail.

And yet another object if this invention is to provide hopper door controls by which definite and accurate control of the amount of ballast to be discharged while the car is moving may be easily attained.

And still another object of this invention is to locate the hoppers and door openings for properly spreading the ballast.

And yet a further object of this invention is to provide a novel operating mechanism whereby the hopper doors are' opened in a direction so as to attain the most etcient ballast spread.

The aforementioned and other objects of the invention may be ascertained by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein- Fig. l is a vertical transverse ysectional view taken through the center of a front set of parallel hoppers and depicting the longitudinal shell structure of the car;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the hopper doors closed; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig. l but showing the hopper doors open.

For purposes of disclosure, one speciiic embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and will hereinafter be described, however it is to be noted that various modifications and alterations may be effected without varying the spirit and the scope of the objects of this invention as delined in the appended claims.

Of primary importance to the proper maintenance of a railway track is the correct placement of ballast material which is located between the rail ties and the track subgrade. The usual procedure for distributingballast is to have a car lilled with ballast pulled over the track area where ballast is needed, while an operator walks along the car and manipulates the hopper bottom opening. As there are instances where a certain amount of ballastis needed either inside or outside a rail, and where the quantity varies, of the utmost importance to the proper distribution is an eicient correlation of the speed of the car and the ease of controlling the amount of opening of the hopper door. To a better solution of the problem with respect to the control mechanism for operating the hopper door is one principal object of this invention.

After the ballast has been spread by the hopper or ba1last-car,..tbe next step is one of ramping the ballast c' ICC into place where it will affect the most eficient use. Needless to say, if the ballast has been spread haphazardly or without regard to tamping placement, much time, effort and expense will be involved in moving the ballast to the proper location. To a better solution of this latter problem is another principal object of this invention.

The invention is embodied in a specially built ballast car having longitudinal and transversely sloping floor sheets to facilitate the free flow of ballast to the hoppers. Four hoppers are provided near the center of the car, the hoppers comprising a forward transversely parallel set and a rear transversely parallel set, each hopper in the forward set being on the same longitudinal axis as the hopper behind it in the rear set. Each hopper has an inner and an outer door, the inner door discharging ballast inside the rail while the outer door discharges ballast outside the rail. A control mechanism using the worm pinion and gear segment principle is provided `with each hopper whereby either curved door may be rotated away from the bottom center (if the hopper or both may be simultaneously rotated.

Referring now to the drawings, a ballast discharge car is depicted having side sheets 10, side posts 11, side plates 12, side sills 13, and a center sill 14. The end structures of the car are not illustrated as they are not deemed relevant to the invention. Near the center of the car and on either side of the center sill are hoppers 15 and 16, in a transversely parallel set and which are disposed in front of a similar pair of hoppers not shown which are also transversely parallel. Hoppers 15 and 16 have 'the same longitudinal axis, as the rear hoppers. To aid in directing the flow of ballast to the hoppers, a center plate 19 is provided which runs transversely between two inner center posts 20-20. Stilfening is provided across the top of the center plate by two angle irons 21-21.

The longitudinal shell structure of the car and a hopper is comprised of the side sheets 10, side slope sheets 22--22 which slope inwardly from the side sheets to form the outer sides of a hopper and which have depending portions 23-23. Over the center sill 14 and between the hoppers in each set extends a ballast separating sheet 24 having its apex above the center sill. The sheet 24 has vertical portions 25-25 securing it to the center sill from which angularly depending sheets 26-26 extend inwardly to form the inner side of a hopper section in conjunction with the depending portions 27-27. The depending portions 27-27 and 23-23 are longitudinally parallel and in the same horizontal plane thereby forming the bottom sides of a hopper, Bewteen the two sets of hoppers is a bracing plate 28 which is secured to the bottom of the center plate 19 thereby forming a type of l` beam structure.

Longitudinally sloping floor sheets 30-30 slope from the ends of the car to the hoppers where the hopper end sheets are secured to the floor sheets. Center crossridge sheets 34-34 are secured at their top to the center plate 19 and slope downwardly to the hopper ends opposite where the oor sheets 30 are secured. The crossridge sheets are secured to the hopper end sheets opposed to those to which the end floor sheets are secured. Closing flanges 37 are provided between the hopper end sheets and the side slope sheets 22 and separating sheet 24.

Eachhopper s comprised, other than the aforementioned sheet structure, of inner and outer bulb irons 38--38 and 39--39 which are secured longitudinally to the depending portions 27-27 and 23-23 respectively. The irons 38 and 39 are also secured at their ends to hopper end plate panels 40.

Eachhopper control mechanism is comprised of a wheel 41 which operates a shaft 42 which further operetes a worm pinion apparatus 43. The shaft 42 is held Patented May 20, 1958,

ass-5,2013k in place by a plate 44 which is secured to the outsideof the side slope sheet 22. The pinion apparatus is secured, such as by rivets 44a, toa wheel support 45. The support hasanges-ildwhich are. securedagainst thefcenter plate byvmeans sueltas; rivets 47; A U-shapedzplate 48 extends {between thewheelsupport 45v andvtheh`opper endfsheets, being` seeuredto `the support by means: such as bolt and nut units 49 andvto the end sheets by means of brackets.

The worm pinion 53 is in mesh with a gear segment 5d which is mounted on and drives a shaft 55 being held secure by a pin 56. As the remaining mechanism parts are duplicated at each end` of eachhopper, only one end will be described to avoid confusion.

Alink 62which'ris rotated by the shaft 5S; is attached at one end to anouter bifurcated door arm 65 by means of a pin on, and at the other endto 4an inner bifurcated door arm @Thy means of a pin-68. The outer bifurq cateddoor armolxis movably attached to an outer doork hanger 69 by means of a clip 70 at the endof the arm opposite the link pin 66. The inner bifurcated door arm 67 is movably attached to an inner door. hanger 71 by means. of a clip 72. The clips 7G and 72are secured to the hangers 69 and 7l-as by welds. The clips 7@ and 'i2 are rotatably attached to the arms 65 and 67 by means of clip pins7d andy 75 respectively. The hangers 69 and 7i are pivoted adjacent the tops thereof by a pivot pin @which is secured to a hanger support 77 by means of a Cotter pin 78. the hopper endsheet andthe end plate panel 40 by means such as rivets, also providing support for the shaft` 55.

Both outer door arms 65 are secured', as by welding, to f a curved outer door 80 for reciprocating the door, and

both inner door arms 67 are secured, as by welding to al icurved inner door 82 for reciprocating that door. The doors @il and 32 are longitudinally disposed and transversely curved so that upon reciprocation a longitudinally disposed opening in the hopper occurs. L-shaped beams {t3-$3 are secured adjacent the inner side of each-door for stiffening purposes. A shaft cover sheet 84 is provided between the hopper end sheets, which coversv the shaft 55 and also serves as a center abutment plate 85 -by being joined at the point where the doors 89 and 82 meet. Angular extensions Sti- S6 of the sheet Sdi serve as deflector shields for the proper deiiection of the ballast upon discharge. It is to be noted that the doors 80 and S2 extend longitudinally beyond the operating linkage adjacent each hopper end thereby protecting the linkage from foreign articles which may be thrown upward from the track.

Upon beingplaced in operation, the novel and structurally rugged hopper door operating mechanism operates the doors by a turn of the wheel 4i. The wheel revolves the Worm pinion 53 which in turn moves the gear segment S4. Direct drive from the segment to the shaft 55 is transmitted through the shaft to the link 62 which is rotated also in a direct ratio to the segment rotation. The link in turn, through is arm pins 66 and 68 force the arms 65 and 67 respectively outward, thereby forcing the hangers 69 and 71 by means of the clips 'iti and to pivot on their pivot pin 76 and reciprocate the doors away from the abutment plate 85. Due to a direct drive being transmitted from the gear segment to the door, the amount of opening is effectively and accurately controlled by the operator at the wheel 41. lt is to be noted that the shafts 55 of hoppers 15 and 17 are on the same longitudinal axis, as are the shafts 55 of ltoppers 16 and 1S.

Scientic road maintenance surveys have disclosed the ideal location for the ballast material, after tamping, to be adjacent the inside and outside of each rail 87 (Figs. l and 2). So as to spread the ballast in that location in order to eliminate the necessity of costly manual spreading for tamping purposes, the reciprocation of the doors and the placement of the door openings in conjunction The hanger support 77 is secured to with Athe deliectorshields werev so designedy to. allow forA the proper accumulation of ballast, as indicated by ballast piles SS-id and 89-89-- And as there are instances also where ballast is required only in certain locations, the operating mechanism was also designed to permit either door to open. By, pulling the outer door link pin 66 at each end of the hpper, the outer door linkage becomes inoperative as the rotation of the'link 62 willinot actuate the outer door arm 69, By pulling theinner door.,

link pins the inner door linkagey also becomes inoperative in a similar manner. l

rihus it may be seen that a simplified operating control mechanism has been disclosed whi-chaccuratelyff allows for the discharge of ballast either inside or outside of the rail or on both sides and in the most ideal location for eliicient tamping purposes.

What is claimed is:

l. ln a ballastcar adapted to run on rails fand having a center sill and ballast discharge hoppers upon opposite sides of said sill, a pair of longitudinally disposedrotary door members underlying each hopper, and-transversely reciprocable to provide a ballast Ldischarge opening directly labove each rail, and mechanism for opening and-closing said door members in such a manner to direct ballast to either side oi said rail or simultaneously to -bothsides thereof, said mechanism having a longitudinal axislocated above, said door members and directly over saidrail.

2. In a ballast car adapted to run on rails andhavingy a center sill and ballast discharge hoppers upon opposite' sides ofsaid sill, `a pair oi longitudinally disposed yrotary doory members at the bottom of each hopperpivotally suspended from a single longitudinal axis and-.moving-by sliding actions in opposing transverse directions'ttherebyproviding a ballast discharge opening beginningl directlyv above each rail, `and mechanism for operating said doors to dischargeballast to either side or both sides Off'Said rails including a rotatable link operatively connected toboth of said doors for simultaneous operation thereof `and operatively-connected to one ot the doorsforselective operation thereof.

3. Ina ballast car adapted to run on rails-and--having a-center sill and ballast discharge hoppers upon opposite sidesof said sill, a pair of longitudinally disposed recipro;

cable door members at the bottom of each hopper thereby providing a pair of discharge openings, abutment `means separating said doors and being located vdirectly over.eachf charge openings and engaging against said abutment means vto close said openings, and mechanism for operating'said doors including a rotatable link operatively connected to Y both of said doors-for discharging ballast to both-sidesof a rail and operatively connected to one of-said-doors for discharging ballast to a selected Vside of a'rail.v

4. In a ballast car adapted to run onrails and having a center sill and ballast discharge hoppers upon opposite sides of said sill, a pair of longitudinally disposed` rotary door members at the bottom of each hopper being separated byvan abutment element and thereby providing a pair of dischargeopenings, said door members being pivotally` suspended from a single longitudinal axis above said element and moving by sliding actions in opposing directions ftransverse to the l'low of ballast through thedis charge openings and engaging beneath said element to close said openings, mechanism for operatingsaid doorsl simultaneously or selectively to discharge ballast to either side or both sides of said rails including anoperating link :andan associated arm at each end thereof operatively connected with respective doors for simultaneous operation orI both doors, and means for disconnectingsaid-link from either o f said arms for selective operation Vof either door.

5. In a ballast. car adapted to lrun on rails and having.,l

a center sill and ballast discharge hoppers upon opposite sides of said sill, a pair of longitudinally disposed rotary doors at the bottom of eac hopper thereby providing ballast discharge openings, said doors being separated by an abutment element, mechanism for controlling the movement of said doors comprising a manually operable member, differential means operated by said member, torque transmitting means rotatably connected to said differential means, linl; means fixedly connected to said torque transmitting means, and pendulum means secured to each end of each door and pivoting about a longitud inal axis above said abutment element, said link means adaptable to be secured to said pendulum means for selectively or simultaneously operating said doors,

6. In a ballast car adapted to run on rails and having a center sill and ballast discharge h-oppers upon opposite sides of said sill, a pair of longitudinally disposed rotary doors at the bottom of each hopper thereby providing ballast discharge openings, said doors being separated by an abutment element, mechanism for controlling the door comprising manually operated differential means, linlt means rotatably connected to said differential means, and arm means pivotally connected to the car above said element and operatively connected to said doors, said link means having ends each of which is adaptable to be connected to said arm means for selectively or simultaneously operating said doors.

7. ln a ballast car adapted to run on rails and having a center sill and at least one ballast discharge hopper, a pair of longitudinally disposed rotary doors at the bottom of each hopper thereby providing ballast discharge openings, and mechanism for controlling said doors comprising manually operated dilerential means, torque transmitting means rotatably connected to said dilerential means, an operating link Xedly connected to said transmitting means, and an associated arm at each end thereof pivotally connected to said car above the bottom of the hopper and operatively connected with respective doors for simultaneous operation of both doors, and means for disconnecting said linlcfrom either of said arms for selective operation of either door.

S. Ina ballast car adapted to run on rails and having a center sill and ballast discharge hoppers upon opposite sides of said sill, a pair of longitudinally disposed rotary doors at the bottom of each hopper thereby providing ballast discharge openings, said doors being separated by `an abutment element, mechanism for operating said doors simultaneously or selectively to discharge ballast to either side or both sides ot said rails comprising a manually operable wheel member, a pinion member rotated by said wheel member, a gear segment driver at right angles by said pinion member, a shaft member fixedly connected to'said segxrient member and extending longitudinally through the center of a hopper, a pair of link members secured one at each end of a hopper, a pair of arms rotatably secured one at each end of each link, and a hanger secured at one end adjacent each end ot each door, said hangers being pivotally connected about a single longitudinal axis in the same vertical plane as said shaft member, each arm being pivoted to its respective hanger, and means for disconnecting each of said lint; members from either of said associated arms for selective operation of either door.

9. In a ballast car adapted to run on rails and having a center sill and ballast discharge hoppers upon opposite sides ct' said sill, a pair of longitudinally disposed doors at the bottom of each of said hoppers, an abutment member between said doors and having deilection shields therebelow, said abutment member having a rst longitudinal anis, mechanism for operating said doors including torque transmitting means along a second longitudinal airis above said rst longitudinal axis, said torque transmitting means operatively connected to pendulum means pivoting about a third longitudinal axis above said second longitudinal axis, said pendulum means operable to slide said doors in opposing transverse directions to said longitudinal axes to permit the flow of ballast through a resulting dischrage opening, said ballast being directed by said detlection shields to spread immediately adjacent a rail, said first, second and third longitudinal axes being in the same vertical plane.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (1st addition to 907,911) 

